Baseball



March 19, 1935. E, H HAWES l 1,994,703

BASEBALL Filed March 14, 1933 2 Shee'bs--SheeI l llllllllllllll/l/ jizz, 'a r'djl ffmdes II Il f y MW@ March 19, 1935. E. H. HAwEs I 1,994,703

BASEBALL Filed March 14, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 19, 1935 BASEBALL Edward H. Hawes, Natick, Mass., assignor to H.

Harwood & Sons, Inc., Natick, Mass., a corporation Y of Massachusetts Application March 14, 1933, serial No. 660,684' 21 claims. (o1. 11e-262)* j This invention pertains to ,playing balls,-par `ticularly to baseballs foroutdoor or vindoor use, and relates more especially to an improved coverseam for such balls. In accordance with usual methods baseballs are provided with covers con-` sisting of two independent pieces which are sewn together with their edges in abutting relation. The `most common practice is to employ two sewing threads and to form a substantially :datseam in which each thread extends diagonally first in one direction land then in the other in uniting the cover members.

During use, a baseball is subjected to heavy blows, moisture, grit, harsh friction, etc., and While the cover material itself may withstand such hard usage for a reasonable length of time, the seams soon loosen and tend to open, and the sewing threads fray and break before the body of the ball `shows any substantial sign of deterioration. As noted, the usual baseball seam consists whollyof stitches extending diagonally across `the line of union of the cover parts. Apparently this diagonal arrangement of thestitches is in part responsible for the loosening of the seam after short use, it being evidentV that the line of pull of such a diagonal stitch is not the most effective for holding the edges of the cover parts in close contact, since the pull exerted by such a `diagonal stitch has a component extending lengthwiseof the seam. Thus any creep of vone coverpart relative to the other tends to openthe seam, while if such a diagonal stitch be drawn veryv tight, it tends to pucker the material of the cover so that the stitch tension itself has a tendency to open the seam at points between the stitches.,

In accordance with the present invention the parts of the cover are united by a seam which, at intervals at least, comprises thread runs extending perpendicularly to the length of the seam so as to exert a direct pull having nolongitudinal component. Thus, when such runs are drawn tightly, the only tendency is `to pull the edges of the cover material into firm engagement and as' the length of thread now extending from cover member to cover member is a minimum, relative creep of the cover parts increasesthe stitch'tension, while the loosening effect of stretch inthe thread becomes less apparent than when diagonal runs are depended upon to unite the parts.

Preferably a perpendicular run of one thread is always associated with a similarV run of the other thread, thus affording a connection having double the vfull strength ofl a` single thread, and in certain embodimentsrof .theinvention all of the perpendicular runs Vare disposed within the cover where they are protected from injury.

In certain Ypreferred embodiments of the invention the uniting threads are so disposed as to forma row of stitches extending longitudinally of the line of union of thecover parts at each side of `such lline of union, and these longitudinally extending stitches reinforce the cover VInaterial adjacent to its edge, thereby tending to prevent stretch of the cover and so assisting in maintaining a tight and close joint.

In certain embodiments of 'the invention, runs of the threads extend across the'line of union of the cover -parts at the` outer or exposed side of the seam, Vor at least as far as the line of union, and across the margin of one cover part, thereby holding vthe marginal portion of the cover part closely against the ball body; moreover, in certain instances, transverse runs of the threads may extend through the thickness Vof the marginal portions of the cover material so as to hold the latter down without exposing the runsgof thread.

Certain embodiments of the invention produce a somewhat prominent seam projecting slightly above the general surface of the ball as compared with the so-.called iiat seam in common use, but not projecting so prominently as the welt or so-called fout-seam sometimes employed in baseballs, particularly playground balls, and which is objectionable by reason of its great prominence and tendency to injure the player. In certain embodiments A,wherein this slight elevation of the seam material ispresent, the crossing runs at the exposed surface of the ballmay be drawn so tightly asv to sink partially into the material of the cover, thus causing the marginal portions of the cover parts to `protrude between successive crossings of the thread, forming in effect a series of prominences bounded in whole or in part by exposed runs of the thread.

In the accompanying drawings wherein various embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example:

, Fig. l is a front elevation of a ball having a seam constructed in accordance With a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, to large scale, showing kdetails of the exposed surface of the seam employedin the ball of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the arrangement of the `threads at the rear or inner side of the cover;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary `radial section, on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, illustrating one arrangement of the perpendicular runs of yarn;

Fig. 2a is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a modified arrangement of the crossing runs to somewhat larger scale;

Fig. 5 is a iront elevation of a ball having a seam of modified construction;

Fig.y 6 is a fragmentary view to larger scale showing the construction of the seam of the ball of Fig.3; ,l .l

Fig. '7 is a similar view showing the seam from the inner side of the cover;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a ball having a further modified form of seam;

Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary views, to larger scale, showing details of the .seam employed in the ball of Fig. 8 as it app'earsvfromvthe outside and inside respectively of the cover;

Fig. 11 is a front elevation ofa ball having a seam of further modified construction;

Figs. 12 and 13 are fragmentary^=views, to-

larger scale, showing details of the seam employed in the ball ofFignll viewed from the outside and inside, respectively; 'I

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of 'a Yball `of still further modified construction; and Figs. 15 and 16 are views to larger scale, showing details. of the seam of thefball of Fig.4 14 viewed from .theoutside and inside, respectively.

Referring to the vdrawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2,"3 and 4, theball comprises two cover members 1 and 2 shaped in the ywell known manner so that when their cut or raw edges'y are in abutting relation they form a complete cover for the spherical bodyv Bof the ball. In' accordance with the preferred construction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the seam which unites the cover members l and 2 is formed from two independent threads so disposed as to provide substantially parallel stitch rows 4 and 5, respectively, at opposite sides of the line of contact 3 of the abutting cut or raw edges of the cover members 1 and 2.

In forming this seam, one of the threads'is arranged to form a stitch 10 of therow 4 directly opposite a stitch 20 of the other thread forming a part of the row 5. The thread forming the stitch 10 passes inwardly through an opening 6 in the cover member v2, thence across beneath the marginal portion M2 of thecover member 2 to form the run 11 which extends as far as the line 3 at which the cover members abut.v This thread then passes out between'the edges of the -cover members to form the run 12 overlying the'margin M1 of the cover member 1. The same thread then passes inwardly through the opening 7 of cover member 1 and extends transversely across beneath both margins M1 and"M2, that is to say, between the cover material and the body of the ball, forming a run 13 extending substantially perpendicular to the line of abutment 3 ofthe cover members and emerging again through the opening 6 in the cover member2. This thread then forms a second-stitchh14` of the row 4, passes in through the opening 8 and beneath both margins M? and M1 of the cover materiaLform ing the run 15 extending substantially perpendicular tothe linel of abutment 3 of the edges of the cover, and then emerges through the open` ing 9 in the cover member 1V Vto form a stitch'16 of the row 5V. The thread which forms the stitch 20 passes through a similar 'courseprovlding for example, the run 22 at the exposed side of the material overlying the margin lVI2 and then passing beneath the margin M1 at the line of abutment of the cover members, where'it crosses the first thread at that'point where the run 12 of the latter emerges from behind the margin M2, and

after passing beneath the margin M1 the second thread appears again through the hole 7 to form the stitch 24 of the row* 5. This thread then passes in through the opening 9,-transversely across the line y3, and out through the opening 8 to form the stitch 26 of the row 4.

It may be noted'that between the holes 6 and '7v runs of both threads extend completelyacross.

fromy one row 4 of stitchesto the other row 5, such runs being taut and substantially perpen- 10 .dicular to the abutting line 3 of the cover material, and that between the holes 8 and9 runs v of both threads likewise extend across from one row of stitches to the other row. Thus between each pair of opposite holes 6 and 7, and 8 and 9.

parallel runs of thread, such runs being perpendicular to the llength of the seam and being adapted to draw the` cover material into very rm and close engagement. At the same time,

at -'alternatepairszof holes,` as for .example'be-- tween the holes 6 and 7, each thread forms a run which extends firstl atfthe outside ofr the cover material f andwthenwat the inside thereof, thus binding the edge of the 'cover down firmly against thebody of the ball." Likewise the rows 4 and 51v of stitches spaced from the edge of the material Y reinforce the material andprevent its stretching 15v respectively, there lare two taut substantially.

When in the present description'and claims, y

reference is made to runs of thread' extending perpendicular Vto the'line of abutments of the cover parts, it is notl thereby intended to intimate any exact mathematical relation, since 'not' only may'the opposedholes' of a pair be slightly kout of alignment, but the threadsA tend totwist and in crossing to displace'each other, and thus the expression perpendicular run 'is' to beinterpreted as'meanin'g generally or substantially" perpendicular in Yeach case. 1 'Y Inr Fig. 2a a slightly modified constructionis shown wherein `the run 22e of one of the threads,

correspondingv to the vrun 22 of Fig. v2, 'passes through-the lthickness of the marginM2 instead' of across the exposed face of such margin, yand then passes downl between the abutting edgesy of the coverl members and beneath' thefmargin -Ml of the cover member 1 to form .therun'zlag Like- Wiserthe-V run 12a of the other threadiextends through the thickness of the ymargin Mland then down between the abutting edges and beneath.

the` margin :Mfto form the run 11e. v'I'his construction is preferred undersome circumstances,

since the threads are not exposed-transverselybf f theseam,A but it is s cmewhat'more diflicultfto make and rthus more expensive.r It may'be noted by reference Ato Figs. 1,l 4 and 2afthat the result ofthis methodof forming the seam is to cause the cover material to protrude or project 'slightly of theball above the general spherical surface between the'rows 4 and5 of stitches, but While the y seamis thus somewhat prominent, it is not nearly so prominentas y,the usual out'seam employed, for example, in playground balls, and while af-v fording a good grip, to the player as'is often `occasioned by the heavy out-seam commonly provided.' j Referring'Y to Figs. 5, 6` and 7, ainodiiied con` is not liable ,to cause injury structionfis illustrated in which theball comprises the cover members 1'a and 2a abutted at their edges Iand secu-red together by the seam construction shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. This seam is likewise formed from two threads and these threads form parallel ro-ws 4a and 5a of stitches spaced from the 'abutment line f3'EL of the cover members. One of the threads, for example, may form the stitchl30 of the row 4a, then pass inwardly through the opening 6a andbeneath both of the margins M2 and M1 of the cover, 'and thence out through the opening 7a, it being noted that this run of thread extends substantially per-- pendicular to the line 3a. The thread then extends along the surface of the cover member 2a to form the stitch 32 of the row 5er-then passes in through the opening 9a transversely across and beneath both margins 'to ormthe run 33, and thence o-ut through the opening 8 `where it forms the exposed stitch 34 oi 'the row 4a. The other thread forms the stitch-4'() `of the row 5a, opposite the stitch 30, then passes in through the opening T12-across in a run 41 to the opening Sar-then forms a stitch in the row 4a, then passes across perpendicular to the line 3a andl out through the opening 9a. y

In this construction, 'as in thatpreviously de-` scribed, a pair of thread substantially perpendicular to the line of abutment of the two cover members, extends across between each pair of opposite openings in the cover parts, thus very firmly uniting the covers to each other with a minimum possibility ofloosening by stretching of the threads and without any tendency to pull the cover parts longitudinally of the seam relative to each other. 'It may be noted that in this construction a stitch 30 of one thread alternates with a stitch of the other Vthread in each ofthe rows 4.a and 5a;

Referring to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, a further modification is illustrated in which the ball has the cover members 1`b and 2? abutting each other at their edges and held together by the seam construction shown in Adetail in Figs. 9 and 10. This seam structure is formed from two independent threads arranged so as to provide rows lband 5b, respectively, of stitches at opposite'sides of the junction line 3lD of the cover members. Thus, for example, one thread may form a stitch or" the row 4b exposed at the surface of the cover member 2b, while the `other thread forms a similar and oppositely arranged stitch v yof the rowb. The thread which forms the stitch 50 then passes in through the opening '6hforming the run 5lr beneath the margin M2. This thread then emerges between the abutting edges of the cover parts and forms the vexposed diagonal run 52 on the outer surface of the margin M1. This thread then passes in through the hole "lb" and forms the transverse run 53 (Fig. 1G) substantiallyY perpendicular to the line 3b,-t'hen'emerges through the opening 8b and forms the exposed stitch 54 of the row 4b. This thread then passes in through the opening 9b to `form a diagonal run behind the margin M2 similar to the run 51. In like manner the thread which forms the stitch 60 extends diagonally across,l forming the partially exposed run 62, then transversely from the hole 8b across to the hole 7b beneath the cover material,-then forms an exposed stitch of the row 5b, and then passes in behind the margin M1 to form another diagonal run.

This construction provides pairs of `runs or" thread substantially perpendicular to the line 3b, but at alternate pairs oi" holesinstead 'off at every pair of holes as in .the previous instances. However, these runs, extending perpendicular to the seam line 3b, draw the coverimembers firmly together, while the diagonal runs, which are partly inside and partly outside of thecover material, help to bind the `cover rmly against the body of the balli Thisseam, whilepossessing many of the desirable characteristics of that of Fig. 2, for example, is somewhat easier tomake and requires less material, and thus may be made more cheaply than that shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3.

Referring to Figs. 11,12 and `13, a still further arrangement is shown which Vprovides pairs of runs of thread extending perpendicular to the seam line at each pair of opposite openings, and

inaddition provides diagonal runs of thread at the exposed surface of the cover adapted to hold the cover nr-mlyagainst the ball body. This seam is'formed of two threads in the same way as the others, and one of these threads may form the stitch '10, for example, of the 'row 4c in the cover member 2C, such thread then passing in through the opening `6 and then transversely across and beneath both margins M2 andlVI1 and perpendicular to the seam line 3,-then merging through the opening 7c of the cover member 1G. This thread then passes in an vexposed diagonal run 72 across the seam line Bcf-then in through the opening 8,-across in a run 73 perpendicular to the seam line, and out through the opening 9c where it forms an exposed .stitch '74 ofthe row` 5C. In the same way the other thread, which forms the stitch 80 'opposite the stitch 70, extends in through the opening '7c forming the transverse run 81, the-n out through the opening 6c to form A the diagonal run 82, then in through the opening 9 and out through the opening 8cr where it forms the stitch 84 of the row 4C. It may be noted'that in this arrangement the exposed diagonal runs` 72 and 82 cross each other substantially on the seam line, both runs being on theoutside or the cover material and that in this arrangement alternate stitches of the rowslc and 5c are formed by the two respective threads.

In the arrangementshown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16, the ball comprises the cover members 1d and 2d and the seam vconsists ci two threads as in the previous instances. One of these threads may form the diagonal run 90, for example, exposed at the outside of the cover and which passes in v through the opening 6d,-then transversely across substantially perpendicular to the seam line 3d and out through the opening 'FR- then forming another exposed diagonal run 92 extending across the seam line. In the same way the other thread forms the diagonal run 100, crossing the seam line 3d beneath the run 90, then passing in through the opening 7d and transversely across in the yrun 101 substantially perpendicular to the seam line, thence out through the opening 6d to form the diagonal run 102 crossing beneath the run 92 of the other thread. I

While this seam structure possesses certain of the characteristics of those previously described, for example, the provision of pairs of runs of thread extending transversely across perpendicular to the seam line, such pairs extending across 'between each successive pair of openings, and also has diagonal crossing runs at the exposed surface of the ball adapted to hold the cover nrmly against the body of the ball, it may be noted that this arrangement does `not provide the longitudinal rows of stitches which, as above noted, add to the strengthdof the cover adjacent to itsmargins, thus helping to prevent .stretching of the cover and loosening ofthe seam. However, while the seam shown in Figs. 14 to 16 does not possess all of the desirable qualities of those previously described, it is easy to make, requires less material, vand is thus cheaper, and under some circumstances may be preferred.

While I have herein illustrated certain desirable features of the present invention by way of example, I wish it to be understood that the underlying principles of the invention are capable of embodiment in other specific constructions and that all such modifications as may be regarded as equivalents of the` construction herein disclosed are to be considered as falling within the scope of the present. invention as expressed f in the appended claims.

I claim: l

1. In a baseball of the typev comprising a body and a cover comprising a plurality of parts disposed with their raw edgesin abutting relation, and a twov thread seam uniting lsaid parts, each seam thread comprising taut runs extending substantially perpendicular to the line of union of the cover parts and between the ball body and cover, and other taut runs exposed inY part at least at the outside of vthe cover, said latter runs of one thread crossing similar runs of the other thread substantially at the line of union of the cover parts, eachthread passing back and forth from one cover part to the otherl and through the entire thickness of each cover part.

2. A baseball having a body and a cover, the latter comprising a plurality of parts disposed with their raw edges in abutting relation, each of said parts having a row of openings spaced from but extending substantially parallel toV theline of abutment of the parts, the openings of the two rows being disposed substantially opposite to each othenand a seam uniting the cover parts, said seam comprising two threads, each thread having a taut run which extends between the ball body and the cover directly across from an opening of one row to the opposite opening of the other row and in substantial contact with a similar run of the other thread which extends between the same pair of openings, each thread having another transverse run, exposed `at least in part at the outside of the cover and which extends from an opening of one row to an opening of the other row and crosses a corresponding run of the other thread.

3. A baseball having a body and a cover, the

latter comprising a plurality of parts disposed with their raw edges in abutting relation, and a seam uniting said parts, said seam comprising two threads each having runs extending substantially parallel to the line of union of the cov-er parts and spaced from said line of union, said runs beingexposed at the outer surface of the cover, and each of said threads having other tightly drawn runs extending substantially perpendicular to said line of union from one part of the cover to the other andY disposed between the body of the ball and the cover.

e. A baseball having a body and a cover, the latter comprising a plurality of parts disposed with their raw edges in abutting relation, and a seam uniting, said-parts, said seam comprising two threads arranged to form rows of stitches exposed atthe exteriorsuriace Aof the completed ball and extending substantially parallel to the line of union-of the cover parte and spaced from the abutting edges of vsaid parts, and transverse runs oi each of said Vthreads extending across from one ofA said rowsgto the other, certain of said transverse lruns being interposed between the body of the ball and the cover, and other of said transverse runs being exposed in part at least at the outside of the cover.

5; A baseball having a body and a cover, ther latter comprising a plurality of parts disposed with their raw edges in abutting relation, and a seam uniting said parts, said seam comprising two Vthreads arranged to'form rows of stitches arranged substantially parallel to and vspaced from the abutting edges of the cover parts, and transverse runs of each of said threads extending across from one row of stitches tothe other, certain of said transverse runs of thread being substantially perpendicular to the line of union of the cover parts and certain rof the transverse runs of each thread crossing similar runs of vthe other thread substantially at the line of abutment of the cover parts.

6. Ina baseball of the type comprising a body and a cover made up of a plurality of parts disposed with their raw edges -in abutting relation, aseam uniting said parts and comprising. two threads disposed to form rows of stitches exposed at the outer surface of the completed ball and extending substantially parallel Yto and spaced from theabutting edges of the cover parts, each row of stitches consisting in part of runs of one thread and in part of runs of the other thread, and other runs of each of said threads extend-y ing from one such row to the other and across the line of union of the cover parts.

7. In a baseball of the type comprising a bodyv and a cover made up of a plurality of parts disv Aposed with their edges in abutting relation, ar

to the other, certain of said-perpendicular runs 'l being disposed wholly between thebo'dy of the ball and the cover, and other of said perpendicular runs being exposed at the outerside of the margin of one cover part and then passing between the abutting edges of the cover parts and being ooncealed beneath the margin ofthe other'cover part.

8. A baseball `having a body and a cover, the

.latter comprising a plurality Yof parts disposed with their edges in abutting relation, and a seamA uniting said parts, said seam comprising two threads v forming rows lof stitches disposed sub- V stantially parallel to and spaced from the line of union of the cover partsrespectively, each row comprising two successive stitches of one thread followed byv two successive stitches of V,the other thread, each of said threads also comprising rims extending substantially perpendicular to the line of union from one cover part to the other.

9. A baseball having a body and a cover, the

latter comprising a plurality of parts disposed with their edges in abutting relation, and a seam uniting said parts, said seam comprising two threads, each thread having a run extending parallel to and spaced from the line of union of the cover parts, said runs being disposed opposite to each other, each thread of such a run then extending inwardly through and beneath the cover and substantially perpendicular vto the line vof unionof the cover parts, thence out betweenA the abutting edges of the cover parts and across the margin of the opposite cover part, then in through said latterA part and-beneaththe` margin of bothcover parts and substantially'lperpendicular tothe line of union, thence out through the iirst cover part and along the outer surface oi thelatter parallel to the line of union and in line with the rst-named run-of said thread, then in through said latter cover part and beneath the margins oi both cover parts and perpendicular to the line of union and thencelout through the uniting said parts, said seam comprising rows of stitches extending substantially-parallel to the line of union of the cover.y` parts and spaced therefrom, certain ofthei stitches being formed from one thread and other of said `s'titchesbeing forined from a second thread, runs of each thread extending across and substantially perpendicular to the line of union from one of said rows to the other,l certain of said runs extending beneath the margin of one cover member to the line of union, thenpassing partially out through said line of union and continuing across within the thickness of the margin of the other `cover part tothe other row of'v stitches. f

11. A baseball having abody and a cover, the latter comprising a plurality of` parts disposed with their edges in abutting relation, and a searn uniting lsaid parts,` said seam comprising two threads forming rows of stitches disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from the abutting edges of the cover parts, and runs of each thread extending across from one row of stitches to the other, certain of said runs extending from one row over the outer surface of the margin of one cover part to the line of union and then between the abutting edges of the cover parts and beneath the margin of the other cover part to the opposite row of stitches, each stitch row consisting in part of stitches formed from one thread and in part of stitches formed from the other thread.

l2. In a baseball of the type comprising a body and a cover made up of a plurality of 'parts disposed with their edges in abutting relation, a seam uniting l said parts and comprising two threads disposed to form rows of stitches extending parallel to and spaced from the abutting edges of the cover parts, one of said rows of stitches consisting wholly of runs oi one of said threads and the other row consisting wholly of runs of the other thread, other runs of each thread extending substantially perpendicular to the line of union of the cover parts, said perpendicular runs being concealed between thebody of the ball and the cover, and further runs extending diagonally from one row of stitches to the other, said diagonal runs being disposed in part at least at the outer side of the cover.

`13. A baseball having a body and a cover, the

vlatter comprising a pluralityof parts disposed i with their edges in abutting relation, and a seam uniting said parts, said seam comprising two threads, each thread having a run extending parallel to and spaced from the line o1" union of the cover parts, said runs oi the two threads being disposed opposite to each other, each thread forming such a run then extending through and beneath the cover and substantially perpendicular to the line of union of the cover parts and out through the other cover part, then diagonally across the margin of the latter part at the outer side thereof, then between the abutting edges of the parts and beneath the margin of the other cover parts at the outer side of the cover and in line with the iirst-named run of `said thread.

le. In abaseball of the type comprising a body and a cover made up of a plurality of parts disposed with Jtheir edges in abutting relation, a seamv uniting said parts land comprising two threads, each thread having a run extending parallel to and spaced from'the line of union of the cover parts, said runs of the two threads being disposedy substantially oppositeV to each other, each thread oi such a run passing inwardly through the cover material, then across beneath the margins of both cover parts substantially perpendicular to the line of union, thenout and diagonally across the margins or both cover parts, then inwardly through'therst cover part and across beneath the margins of both cover parts substantially perpendicular to the line of union, d

and then out through thesecond cover1 part to form an exposedstitch in line in the iirst-named run of the other thread.

l5. Abaseball having a body and a cover, the latter comprising a plurality of parts disposed with their edges in abutting relation, and a seam uniting said parts,` Vsaid seam comprising two threads disposed to io-rrn'rows of stitches extend-v ing substantially parallel to and spaced from the lineoi union of the cover parte', alternate stitches of each row'being of dii'erent threads, respectively, each thread having runs extending across from one row to the other beneath the margins of both cover parts substantially perpendicular to the line of union of said parts, and each thread having diagonal runs extending from one row to the other at the outer side of the cover, the diagonal runs of the two threads crossing substantially at the line of union of the cover parts.

16. A baseball having Va body and a cover, the latter comprising a plurality of parts with their edges in abutting relation, and a two-thread seam uniting said parts, the seam threads forming rows of stitches, parallel to and spaced from the line of contact of the cover parts, and at opposite sides respectively of said line, said stitches being exposed at the outside of the cover, and runs of the same threads extending across from one row to the other beneath the cover, causing the cover material 4between the stitch rows to project slightly beyond the general spherical surface of the cover, and other runs of the same threads extending diagonally across from row to row of stitches, said latter runs being exposed at least in part at the outer side of the cover.

17. A baseball having a body and a cover, the latter comprising a plurality of parts with their edges in abutting relation, and a two-thread seam uniting said parts, the seam threads forming rows of stitches, parallel to and spaced from the line of contact of the cover parts, and at opposite sides respectively of said line, said stitches being exposed at the outside of the cover, and runs of the same threads extending across from one row to the other beneath the cover, causing the cover material between the stitch rows to project slightly beyond the general spherical surface of the cover, andother runs of the saine threads extending diagonally across from row to row of stitches, said latter runs being exposed at the outside of the cover and, together with the stitches of said rows, setting ofi the cover material vbetween said rows into polygonal areas.

i8. In a baseball of the type comprising a body and a cover made up of a plurality of parts dispart, thence out' through the latter t`o`forn1 a second run `parallel to the line of union oi .the

posed with their' edges in abutting relation, a, seam uniting said parts and comprising two threads, each thread having an exposed diagonal run extending from one cover part to the other across the/line of union of the two parts; then in through the cover material and beneath the margins of both parts to form a run substantially perpendicular to the line of union, and thence out to the outer surface of the rst cover part.

19. In a baseball of the type comprising a body and a cover made up of a plurality of parts disposed with their raw edges in abutting relation, a seam uniting said parts and comprising a pair of threads each having portions of its length lying on the outer surface of the cover, other portions extending through thev cover, and still other portions lying on the inner surface thereof between the cover and the ball body, said'seam including taut runs of each thread formed at least in part from said last mentioned portions and extending between pairs of holes disposed in said two cover parts on lines substantially at right angles to the line of union of said parts, the aforesaid taut runs of the two threads being substantially in Contact from one of said holes to` the other.

20. A baseball having a body and a cover, the latter comprising a plurality of parts disposed with their edges in abutting relation, and a seam uniting said parts, said seam comprising two threads forming rows of stitches exposed at the outer onerow over the outer surface of the margin oi", one cover part to the line of union and then be- I tween the abutting edges of the cover parts and beneath the margin of the other cover part to the opposite row of stitches.

21. A baseball having a body and a cover, the

latter comprising a plurality of. parts disposed,

with rtheir raw edges in abutting relation, and a -seam uniting said parts, said seam comprisingv two threads each having runs extendingvsubstantially parallel to the line of union of the cover parts, said runs being exposed at the outer face io f of the cover, and each thread having other runs extending transversely across the line of union of the cover parts from one of said parts to the posed wholly betweenthe body of the ball and the cover, and extendingr substanti'allyfperpen-y dicular to the line `of union of thev cover parts,`

and other of said transverse' runs being exposed at the outer side of thevmarginof one cover part y and then passing between the abuttingv edges of the cover parts andbeing concealed beneath -the margin of the other cover part.

EDWARD H. HAWEs;

20, other, certain of said transverse runs being disv- 

